Genevieve Russell

New Mexico lost one of its musical standard bearers last week. Roberto Martinez Sr. died Thursday at the age of 83.

Martinez co-founded the long-running ensemble known as Los Reyes de Albuquerque in 1962, and continued fronting the group until recent years. He penned many songs, notably many well known corridos that told stories about the land and the history of New Mexico.

Albuquerque, NM – In the final installment of the special series on the New Mexico musical group Los Reyes de Albuquerque and the Martinez family, UNM professor and folklorist Enrique Lamadrid reflects on the legacy of the family and the future for the styles of music it has helped preserve over the last 47 years.

Albuquerque, NM – Since 1962, when the family of Roberto and Ramona Martinez moved to Albuquerque, the whole Martinez family has had an important presence in both preserving traditional Hispanic music of Mexico and Northern New Mexico, as well as creating new music that both honors the past and updates traditional styles to the present.

Albuquerque, NM – Since its inception in 1962, Los Reyes de Alburquerque, sustained by the musical Martinez family of Albuquerque, has been preserving and presenting the community Hispanic music of Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.

Albuquerque, NM – In 1962, Roberto Martinez, a civilian Air Force employee working at Kirtland Air Force Base, put together a little musical group to moonlight in the evenings and on the weekends. He and his trumpet-playing friend Ray Flores called the band they founded Los Reyes de Albuquerque.